At the Swedish Cancer Institute, we practice personalized medicine every day. We combine the newest, most advanced science with extraordinary medicine and patient-centered care in order to develop a care plan that’s personalized for you. Our approach ensures the best treatment pathway for you right from the start.
Using Gene Sequencing to Help Treat Your Cancer
Not all cancers are alike. Just as your “genetic fingerprint” determines the color of your hair and eyes, a tumor’s “genomic fingerprint” defines the cancer cells.
Identifying a tumor’s genomic fingerprint is called gene sequencing. This science is helping many of our patients get the best cancer treatment. Find more details about how we use gene sequencing to treat cancer.
Patients with the same type of cancer usually received the same type of treatment. For example, if you had stage IV colon cancer, you probably received similar initial chemotherapy as every other patient with stage IV colon cancer.
Today, gene sequencing allows cancer specialists at the Swedish Cancer Institute to identify gene abnormalities in cancer cells and then personalize cancer treatments for those specific abnormalities — independent of where the cells or tumors are located. This information allows us to create a customized treatment plan that will work best for you. Learn more about how your personal treatment plan is developed.
Personalized medicine is the most comprehensive, effective and efficient approach to cancer care.
Making Cancer Personal
Cancer is personal, so we make sure everything at the Swedish Cancer Institute is personal, too. It begins with your cancer-care team. You will have a team of cancer specialists created specifically for your particular needs.
Treating the Whole You
Personalized medicine at the Swedish Cancer Institute means we harness every tool to focus our clinical expertise on your disease. And we use utilize every type of therapy provide customized “whole person” care, focused specifically on you — not just your disease.
We provide an environment, resources and support that attend to your physical, psychological, social and other needs. And because we acknowledge that you may have developed many important personal relationships long before your battle with cancer began, we also offer educational and supportive services that are designed specifically for your families and caregivers.
We call this aspect of personalized medicine supportive care services because they provide essential nurturing support critical to you throughout your cancer management — from diagnosis, through treatment and survivorship.
Personalized medicine at the Swedish Cancer Institute means we harness every tool to focus our clinical expertise on your disease. And we use utilize every type of therapy provide customized “whole person” care, focused specifically on you — not just your disease.
We provide an environment, resources and support that attend to your physical, psychological, social and other needs. And because we acknowledge that you may have developed many important personal relationships long before your battle with cancer began, we also offer educational and supportive services that are designed specifically for your families and caregivers.
We call this aspect of personalized medicine supportive care services because they provide essential nurturing support critical to you throughout your cancer management — from diagnosis, through treatment and survivorship.
American Cancer Society’s Cancer Patient Navigator provides information on coping with illness and treatment and find resources assistance, medication, home-health care and transportation. Learn more about Cancer Resource Navigator
Art Therapy
Art therapy combines the benefits of counseling and creative expression. It is a healing modality intended to integrate physical, emotional and spiritual care by facilitating creative ways for patients to respond to their cancer experience. Through the use of visual media such as painting, drawing and sculpture, people with cancer find ways to express emotions, reduce side effects, increase relaxation and improve their emotional well-being. Learn more about Art Therapy
Cancer Education Classes
The Swedish Cancer Institute offers programs to assist you, your family and your caregivers in making treatment decisions, managing your symptoms and accessing complementary programs to help your mind, body and spirit to heal. Find Upcoming Classes
Cancer Education Center
The Cancer Education Center at Swedish is a unique resource that provides patient education to the public free of charge. The center offers a wide variety of brochures, books, videos and audiotapes about cancer, and an expansive computer database that can be used to search for and print information about specific types of cancer. The center is staffed with health educators and offers a safe environment for patients and their caregivers to learn about their specific cancer and available support resources. Visit our Cancer Education Center
Cancer Rehabilitation
Cancer Rehabilitation helps patients maintain energy and strength and to optimize function or bring back lost due to the effects of cancer and treatment. Learn more about Cancer Rehabilitation
Counseling & Support
Cancer can lead to countless difficulties for patients’ social, emotional and physical functioning. Psycho-oncology focuses on helping patients and their families maintain the emotional well-being needed to cope with the stress of a cancer diagnosis, treatment and survivorship. Learn more about Counseling and Support Groups
Genetic Counseling and Testing
Genetic Counselors determine which genetic tests are appropriate for patients and families for hereditary cancers including breast, ovarian cancer and colon cancers, as well as the risks, advantages and costs. The genetic-test results will be integrated into patient care and surveillance for cancer. Learn more about Genetic Counseling and Testing
Knit for Life
This network of volunteers uses knitting as a healing experience to enhance the lives of cancer patients, their families and caregivers and recovery. It provides a supportive environment for beginning and experienced knitters. All materials are provided.
Massage Therapy
Massage has been found to relieve symptoms related to cancer, as well as side effects from treatments, such as nausea, fatigue and pain. Licensed massage therapists apply pressure to the soft tissues of the body to stimulate nerves and increase blood flow. All massages are tailored to the each patient’s needs. Learn more about Massage Therapy
Music Therapy
Music therapy uses music to improve emotional, physical, physiological and spiritual well-being. A typical session consists of talking with a counselor followed by an activity that involves music and sound. Some techniques used include drumming, singing, chanting and songwriting. This service is free and no musical experience is necessary. Learn more about Music Therapy
Meditation
Mindfulness meditation, an eight-week session offered through the Swedish Wellness Program, is designed to help patients better manage their stress and physical symptoms as a result of their medical condition. Learn more about Meditation
Naturopathic Medicine
Naturopathic Care supports a patient’s immune system and reducing side effects. It ensures that you avoid nutritional supplements that could interfere with your cancer treatment or worsen side effects and help patients keep strong and healthy as possible during treatment and develop a cancer prevention plan after treatment. Learn more about Naturopathic Care
Nutrition Counseling
Nutrition Care helps patients and families make the best dietary decisions during their cancer treatment including how to deal with loss of appetite and adding protein and calories to your diet. Learn more about Nutrition Counseling
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